London (People's Daily) - Thirty-nine bodies found dead in a truck in Essex, London were confirmed to be Chinese nationals.

(Photo: VCG)

UK police said the victims included 31 men and 8 women, with one of them a teenager. The truck driver has been arrested for suspected murder.

It is said the truck entered the UK from Belgium, but Belgian investigators said it was not yet clear when the victims were placed in the container and whether that happened in Belgium.

Although the police have made no confirmation, it is highly possible that the victims were illegal immigrants who hid in the refrigerator unit and were frozen to death in temperatures as low as minus 25 degrees Celsius.

The Chinese Embassy in UK says it’s cooperating with UK police in order to confirm the identities of the victims as soon as possible.

"We read with heavy heart the reports about the death of 39 people in Essex, England. We are in close contact with the British police to seek clarification and confirmation of the relevant reports," the embassy said in a statement.